Gate latch



w. MYERS.

GATE LATCH.

APPLICATION FILEID MAR. 24. 921.

1,402,486; Patented Jan. 3,1922.

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GATE LATCH.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 3, 11922.

Application filed March 24, 1921. Serial No. 455,019.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM L. MYERS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Industry, in the county of McDonough and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Gate Latch, of which the following A is a specification.

This invention relates to gate latches, the primary object of the invention being to provide a gate latch which will secure a gate in its closed position, eliminating any danger of the gate opening under wind pressure.

A further object of the invention is to provide a latch of this character formed of a" single length of material, avoiding a multipliclty of parts in the construction of a latch, thereby reducing the cost of production to a minimum.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. I

Referring to the drawing Figure 1 illustrates a fragmental view of a gate showing the latch constructed inaccordance with the present invention, applied thereto.

Figure 2 illustrates a plan view of the same.

Figure 3 illustrates a detail view of the latch end of the device.

Referring to the drawing in'detail, the reference character 5 designates a gate to which the latch, forming the subject matter of the present invention is applied.

The device is formed preferably of a length of flexible wire, the wire being bent intermediate its ends as at 6 to provide opposed arms 7 and 8, the curved portion of the arm 6 providing the gate end of the An arm 12 forms a continuation of the right angled portion and is disposed in spaced relation therewith to provide a guideway for the latch arm 7 of the de vice, the portions 11 and 12 forming a guard for the latch member 13 or" the device to hold the arm 7 against lateral movement.

One end of the arm 7 extends beyond the right angled portion 11 to provide a latch member or hook 13, the hook being formed by bending one end of the arm 7 downwardly and inwardly, the extreme end of the latch member terminating in a relatively straight portion 15 for guiding the hook member into its keeper 16, which in the present form of the invention is shown as a staple secured tothe usual stop post of a gate construction.

If it is desired to release the hook memher from its keeper, it is only necessary to move the arm'8 upwardly to a position as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing, which movement releases the hook member of the arm 7 from the guard, whereupon the latch member may be readily removed from its keeper.

It might be further stated that the lower end of the hook portion normally lies between the portions 11 and 12 of the arm 8, to hold the hook member in a true operative position and prevent the latch member from bending when lateral strain is directed thereto.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new is A latch member including a length of wire bent intermediate its ends to provide a pair of spaced arms, one of said arms having one end thereof bent upwardly and downwardly to form a guard, the opposite arm extending beyond the guard to provide a latch member, the lower portion of the latch member extending rearwardly, and disposed between the upwardly and downwardly extending portions of the first 1nentioned arm to lock the latch member.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto atlixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

Witnesses M. C. SPRINGER, H. E. WHEELER. 

